Course Overview

What do downstream oil and gas operations refer to? Downstream oil and gas operations include refinement of crude oil, processing and purification of natural gas and marketing and distribution of products derived from these raw resources.

It includes all processes involved in converting raw material to a finished product that ultimately reaches the customer. The downstream sector is the last in the oil and gas supply chain. The two types of companies that compete in this sector are called integrated companies and independents.

The business model of downstream companies would significantly differ from that of upstream companies. By nature of their operations, these companies are able to generate greater cash flow and thus grab the attention of investors.

This Zoe training course will empower you with a complete overview and understanding of the downstream sector of oil and gas. Through this course, you will be able to independently handle and drive operations related to the processing of raw material to finished products and their distribution to customers through various marketing and branding strategies.

The knowledge and experience gained through this course will help you undertake critical responsibilities across the oil and gas industry, thus widening your scope for career growth and development.

Course Objectives

The primary objective of this training program is to empower professionals with—

• detailed understanding and knowledge of global downstream oil and gas operations
• the required ability and skill to partake in and successfully perform any activity across any function in the downstream supply chain
• the knowledge and exposure to address existing gaps in current processes and systems and make enhancements for greater efficiency and quality of delivery
• the confidence and skill to coach other professionals and guide them to adopt best practices for the betterment of existing systems and processes, as well as their growth and development
• the necessary perspective and analytical skills to explore all possibilities of challenges and hindrances that may arise in future and make provisions to prevent adverse effects to the organisation
• better marketing and branding strategies for the organisation, thus increasing sales and credibility and demonstrating potential for seamless career growth
• the skill and confidence to influence operations and make changes to encourage investments, thus supporting organisational growth and development
• the skill, confidence and experience to introduce automation and advanced techniques at various levels of operations to match international standards and build competence and potential of one’s organisation to handle global projects

You might also want to check our Oil Spill (On Scene Commander level) training program.

Training Methodology

All courses at Zoe Talent Solutions are extremely customisable as per the professional and academic backgrounds of the training audience. Before the commencement of each session, the course content is thoroughly reviewed to ensure that it is most relevant to the intended audience. Lectures are delivered by professionals highly experienced in the relevant domain.

Trainee participation is fostered through group assignments and projects, as well as relevant role-plays and case study discussions. Another important source of active learning are discussions of trainees sharing related challenges and issues they face at their workplace, and these are addressed by the trainer.

The above innovative model of training is a typical model followed by Zoe Talent Solutions and is called the Do–Review–Learn–Apply Model.

Organisational Benefits

By professionals undertaking this training course, their organisations will derive the following benefits:

• Leaner and seamless global downstream oil and gas operations managed by experienced and trained professionals
• Regular checks and process enhancements as per changing market requirements and international standards and regulations
• Lower costs and increased savings because of the application of advanced techniques and automation, increasing efficiency and reducing the room for manual error
• Reduced risks because of detailed and thorough analyses for risk prediction and treatment
• Increased investments because of better risk management and leaner operations, thus encouraging organisation growth and development
• Regular training of other employees on best practices of global downstream operations
• Adherence to international standards and benchmarks, thus greater preparedness and success with international contracts
• Better branding and marketing because of advanced and innovative marketing and branding strategies by trained and experienced professionals

Personal Benefits

Professionals enrolling for this training course will derive the following benefits:

• Detailed understanding and knowledge of global downstream oil and gas operations
• Increased confidence and experience to check existing systems and processes and make enhancements for leaner operations
• Enhanced strategic and analytical skills to explore all possibilities and chances of challenges and risks in future and address these to minimise impact to business
• Greater knowledge and skill to reduce costs through automation and leaner operations
• Increased confidence and knowledge to train other professionals on important aspects of global downstream oil and gas operations
• Greater ability and potential to contribute to organisational growth through effective risk prediction and treatment as well as reduced costs
• Enhanced marketing and strategic skills to devise impressive and effective marketing strategies for one’s organisation
• Greater knowledge of international benchmarks and standards to check adherence of one’s organisation to these to handle and successfully honour contracts at an international level
• Better skillset and capabilities to undertake roles in any functions across the downstream oil and gas supply chain within and outside the organisation, thus providing more avenues for movement and progression

Interested in Oil and Gas Courses? Have a look at the entire category here under Oil and Gas Courses in Dubai.

Who Should Attend?

• Senior management of an organisation who need to thoroughly understand all aspects of global downstream oil and gas operations
• Managers and supervisors handling various functions across the downstream sector
• Team members performing various activities across various processes of the downstream supply chain
• Marketing and sales managers responsible for creating and implementing marketing and sales strategies for finished products
• Quality checkers as well as internal and external auditors responsible for ensuring adherence to industrial standards
• Law officers and financial advisors involved in providing relevant advice to the senior management of an organisation
• Potential investors who need to understand global downstream oil and gas operations to make informed decisions
• Any other professional who would like to know more about global downstream oil and gas operations

Course Outline

The course covers the following areas important to understanding global downstream oil and gas operations:

Module 1 – Key Downstream Sectors in Oil and Gas

• Oil refining
  • Separation
  • Conversion
  • Treatment
• Supply and trading
• Product marketing (wholesale and retail)

Module 2 – Processing Units Used in Refineries

• Crude oil distillation unit
• Vacuum distillation unit
• Naphtha hydrotreater unit
• Catalytic reforming unit
• Alkylation unit
• Isomerisation unit
• Distillate hydrotreater unit
• Mercaptan oxidiser
• Amine gas treater
• Fluid catalytic cracking unit
• Hydrocracker unit
• Delayed coking and fluid coking units

Module 3 – Types of Refining End-Products

• Light distillates
• Middle distillates
• Heavy distillates
• Others

Module 4 – Risk Factors Affecting Supply and Trading Decision Making

• Volume rateability
• Time
• Price volatility

Module 5 – Benefits of Marketing and Branding

• Customer perception of reliability
• National brand recognition
• Better market acceptance

Module 6 – Marketing Price Structure

• Future prices
• Spot prices
• Rack prices
• Dealer tank wagon prices

Module 7 – Types of Marketing Distribution Channels

• Retailers
• End users
• Re-sellers

Module 8 – Types of Downstream Risks and Their Management

• Environmental risks
• Demand risks
• Manufacturing risks
• Supply risks
• Supply chain backward flow risks